Method for producing solidified articles

ABSTRACT

A molding system for use in producing a solidified article having a predetermined composite pattern formed of at least two kinds of viscous fluids distinct from each other in color, the system including: at least one discrete passage per each of the viscous fluids, and at least one discrete passage outlet per each of the viscous fluids separately guided through the at least one discrete passage, a method for producing the solidified article, an apparatus for producing the solidified article, and a method for producing the solidified articles.

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.09/467,720 filed on Dec. 20, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,742, which isa divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/767,368 filed on Dec. 16,1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,554.

BACK GROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a molding system for charging viscousfluids into a unit mold for use in producing a solidified article havinga predetermined composite pattern, a method for producing a solidifiedarticle having a predetermined composite pattern, an apparatus forproducing solidified articles having a predetermined composite pattern,and a method for producing solidified articles having a predeterminedcomposite pattern.

PRIOR ART

Solidified articles formed by molding and solidifying viscous fluids,such as solidified chocolates, have hitherto been produced by a methodwherein the liquid chocolate to be molded is measured by a depositor (avolume regulating filling machine), while the liquid chocolate isstirred in a storage tank thereof for maintaining the homogeneous stateof the liquid chocolate, and charged into a desired mold. In thismethod, a molding system is adopted wherein a single kind of liquidchocolate is guided through a single discrete passage to a desiredsingle unit mold for molding a single solidified chocolate (solidifiedarticle).

On the other hand, for forming a composite pattern on the solidifiedchocolate, two kinds of liquid chocolates are stored together in asingle tank, measured in the mixed state, and charged into a desiredunit mold, thereby forming a composite pattern. In this method, sincethe two kinds of liquid chocolates are previously mixed prior to themeasurement, the ratio of the liquid chocolates in each solidifiedchocolate to be produced is different, so that solidified chocolateshaving the same (uniform) composite pattern (solidified articles havinga predetermined composite pattern formed of at least two kinds ofviscous fluids) cannot be produced.

Alternatively, there is proposed a method for producing a solidifiedarticle having a composite pattern, wherein a desired liquid chocolateis dotted onto the inner surface of the mold by a brush or the like, andanother kind of liquid chocolate is charged by the depositor to form thecomposite pattern. However, this method requires a great amount of timeand effort in the time-consuming dotting process. Further, each of theobtained solidified chocolates has a different composite pattern, as inthe above case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a moldingsystem which can charge two or more kinds of viscous fluids distinctfrom each other in color into a desired unit mold in a predeterminedstate, and a method for producing a solidified article having apredetermined composite pattern easily with high accuracy using theabove molding system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a moldingsystem which can charge at least two kinds of viscous fluids distinctfrom each other in color into a unit mold in a state wherein the streamsof the viscous fluids are merged and collected, or wherein the streamsof the viscous fluids are suitably mixed, and a method for producing asolidified article which can produce a solidified article having apredetermined composite pattern suitably mingled easily and accurately.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a moldingsystem which can charge at least two kinds of viscous fluids distinctfrom each other in color in a predetermined state suitably mingled to adesired extent into a unit mold, and a method for producing a solidifiedarticle having a predetermined composite pattern suitably mingled to adesired extent easily and accurately.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a moldingsystem which can charge at least one viscous fluid to be enclosed insideand at least two kinds of viscous fluids to surround the at least oneviscous fluid in a predetermined state into a unit mold, and a methodfor producing a solidified article having at least one viscous fluidinside and at least two kinds of viscous fluids surrounding therearoundcovering the at least one viscous fluid easily and accurately.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a moldingsystem which can charge at least one viscous fluid to be enclosed insideand at least two kinds of viscous fluids to surround the at least oneviscous fluid in a predetermined collected and merged state or in apredetermined state suitably mingled, into a unit mold, and a method forproducing a solidified article having at least one viscous fluid insideand at least two kinds of viscous fluids surrounding therearoundcovering the at least one viscous fluid in suitably mingled state easilyand accurately.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a moldingsystem which can charge at least one viscous fluid to be enclosed insideand at least two kinds of viscous fluids to surround the at least oneviscous fluid in a predetermined state suitably mingled to a desiredextent, into a unit mold, and a method for producing a solidifiedarticle having at least one viscous fluid inside and at least two kindsof viscous fluids surrounding therearound covering the at least oneviscous fluid in a predetermined state suitably mingled to a desiredextend easily and accurately.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having a predeterminedcomposite pattern formed of at least two kinds of viscous fluidsdistinct from each other in color, and a method which can mass-producingsuch solidified products effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having a predeterminedcomposite pattern suitably mingle formed of at least two kinds ofviscous fluids distinct from each other in color, and a method which canmass-producing such solidified products effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having a predeterminedspecific composite pattern such as spiral or zigzag pattern formed of atleast two kinds of viscous fluids distinct from each other in color, anda method which can mass-producing such solidified products effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having a predetermined,suitably-mingled, specific composite pattern such as spiral or zigzagpattern formed of at least two kinds of viscous fluids distinct fromeach other in color, and a method which can mass-producing suchsolidified articles effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having a predeterminedcomposite pattern formed of at least two kinds of viscous fluidsdistinct from each other in color which are continuously supplied, and amethod which can mass-producing such solidified products effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having a predeterminedcomposite pattern suitably mingle formed of at least two kinds ofviscous fluids distinct from each other in color which are continuouslysupplied, and a method which can mass-producing such solidified productseffectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having a predeterminedspecific composite pattern such as spiral or zigzag pattern formed of atleast two kinds of viscous fluids distinct from each other in colorwhich are continuously supplied, and a method which can mass-producingsuch solidified products effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having a predetermined,suitably-mingled, specific composite pattern such as spiral or zigzagpattern formed of at least two kinds of viscous fluids distinct fromeach other in color which are continuously supplied, and a method whichcan mass-producing such solidified articles effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having at least one viscousfluid extending longitudinally inside as a central axis and a compositepattern surrounding thereof formed of at least two kinds of viscousfluids in a predetermined state, which viscous fluids are continuouslysupplied, and a method which can mass-produce such solidified articleseffectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having at least one viscousfluid extending longitudinally inside as a central axis and a compositepattern surrounding thereof formed of at least two kinds of viscousfluids in a predetermined mingled state, which viscous fluids arecontinuously supplied, and a method which can mass-produce suchsolidified articles effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having at least one viscousfluid extending longitudinally inside as a central axis and apredetermined, specific composite pattern, such as spiral or zigzagpattern, surrounding thereof formed of at least two kinds of viscousfluids in a predetermined mingled state, which viscous fluids arecontinuously supplied, and a method which can mass-produce suchsolidified articles effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having at least one viscousfluid extending longitudinally inside as a central axis and apredetermined, specific, suitably-mingled, composite pattern, such asspiral or zigzag pattern, surrounding thereof formed of at least twokinds of viscous fluids in a predetermined mingled state, which viscousfluids are continuously supplied, and a method which can mass-producesuch solidified articles effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having a predeterminedcomposite pattern formed of at least two kinds of viscous fluidsdistinct from each other in color which are supplied intermittently, anda method which can mass-produce such solidified articles effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having a predeterminedcomposite pattern suitably mingled to a desired state formed of at leasttwo kinds of viscous fluids distinct from each other in color which aresupplied intermittently, and a method which can mass-produce suchsolidified articles effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having a predetermined,specific, composite pattern, such as spiral or zigzag pattern formed ofat least two kinds of viscous fluids distinct from each other in colorwhich are supplied intermittently, and a method which can mass-producesuch solidified articles effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having a predetermined,specific, composite pattern suitably mingled to a desired state, such asspiral or zigzag pattern formed of at least two kinds of viscous fluidsdistinct from each other in color which are supplied intermittently, anda method which can mass-produce such solidified articles effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having at least one viscousfluid inside and a composite pattern surrounding thereof formed of atleast two kinds of viscous fluids in a predetermined state, whichviscous fluids are supplied intermittently, and a method which canmass-produce such solidified articles effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having at least one viscousfluid inside and a composite pattern surrounding thereof formed of atleast two kinds of viscous fluids in a predetermined, suitably-mingledstate, which viscous fluids are supplied intermittently, and a methodwhich can mass-produce such solidified articles effectively.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich can mass-produce solidified articles having at least one viscousfluid inside and a composite pattern surrounding thereof formed of atleast two kinds of viscous fluids in a predetermined specific patternsuitably mingled to a desired extent, such as spiral or zigzag pattern,which viscous fluids are supplied intermittently, and a method which canmass-produce such solidified articles effectively.

The present invention is made in view of the above objects.

According to the present invention, there is provided a molding systemfor use in producing a solidified article having a predeterminedcomposite pattern formed of at least two kinds of viscous fluidsdistinct from each other in color, said system comprising:

-   -   at least one discrete passage per each of said viscous fluids        for separately guiding a predetermined amount of each of the        viscous fluids to a unit mold for forming a single solidified        article, each of the viscous fluids having been measured        separately to have a predetermined amount, and    -   at least one discrete passage outlet per each of said viscous        fluids separately guided through said at least one discrete        passage,    -   each of said at least one discrete passage outlet per each of        the viscous fluids being arranged in a plane facing the unit        mold.

According to the present invention, there is provided the molding systemof the above type wherein said discrete passage outlets are arranged insaid plane so that at least one discrete passage outlet is surrounded byrest of the discrete passage outlets.

According to the present invention, there is provided the molding systemof the above type further comprising:

-   -   at least one uniting passage communicating with said discrete        passage outlets discharging at least two kinds of the viscous        fluids among all of said discrete passage outlets, and    -   at least one uniting passage outlet provided at one end of said        at least one uniting passage, said at least one uniting passage        outlet facing the unit mold.

According to the present invention, there is provided the molding systemof the above type wherein said at least one uniting passage has a platehaving at least one orifice therein for passing the viscous fluids, saidplate being disposed in the middle of the uniting passage in a planetransverse to a flow direction of the viscous fluid through the unitingpassage.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method forproducing a solidified article having a predetermined composite patternformed of at least two kinds of viscous fluids distinct from each otherin color, said method comprising the steps of:

-   -   separately measuring said at least two kinds of viscous fluids,    -   passing each of said separately measured viscous fluids through        at least one discrete passage per each of said viscous fluids        for separately guiding each of said viscous fluids,    -   discharging said viscous fluids from said at least one discrete        passage per each of said viscous fluids through at least one        discrete passage outlet per each of said separately guided        viscous fluids, each of said at least one discrete passage        outlet per each of the viscous fluids being arranged in a plane        facing the unit mold, and    -   receiving and solidifying all kinds of said discharged viscous        fluids in a unit mold to form a solidified article having a        predetermined composite pattern.

According to the present invention, there is provided the method asmentioned above wherein said discrete passage outlets are arranged insaid plane so that at least one discrete passage outlet is surrounded byrest of the discrete passage outlets, and wherein a timing fordischarging said viscous fluids through said discrete passage outletsare controlled so that discharge of the viscous fluid through said atleast one surrounded discrete passage outlet starts later and endsearlier than discharge of the viscous fluids through said rest of thediscrete passage outlets.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method forproducing a solidified article having a predetermined composite patternformed of at least two kinds of viscous fluids distinct from each otherin color, said method comprising the steps of:

-   -   separately measuring said at least two kinds of viscous fluids,    -   passing each of said separately measured viscous fluids through        at least one discrete passage per each of said viscous fluids        for separately guiding each of said viscous fluids,    -   discharging said viscous fluids from said at least one discrete        passage per each of said viscous fluids through at least one        discrete passage outlet per each of said separately guided        viscous fluids, each of said at least one discrete passage        outlet per each of the viscous fluids being arranged in a plane,    -   passing at least two kinds of said viscous fluids of all the        discharged viscous fluids through at least one uniting passage,    -   discharging said at least two kinds of said viscous fluids from        the uniting passage through at least one uniting passage outlet        provided at one end of said at least one uniting passage, and    -   receiving and solidifying all kinds of said viscous fluids        including said viscous fluids discharged through said at least        one uniting passage outlet in a unit mold to form a solidified        article having a predetermined composite pattern.

According to the present invention, there is provided the method asdescribed above wherein said discrete passage outlets are arranged insaid plane so that at least one discrete passage outlet is surrounded byrest of the discrete passage outlets, and wherein a timing fordischarging said viscous fluids through said discrete passage outletsare controlled so that discharge of the viscous fluid through said atleast one surrounded discrete passage outlet starts later and endsearlier than discharge of the viscous fluids through said rest of thediscrete passage outlets.

According to the present invention, there is provided the method asdescribed above wherein the viscous fluid discharged through said atleast one discrete passage outlet is passed through at least one seconddiscrete passage in stead of said uniting passage, discharged from saidsecond discrete passage through at least one second discrete passageoutlet provided at one end of said at least one second discrete passage,and received and solidified in said unit mold to form the solidifiedarticle together with the rest of the viscous fluids.

According to the present invention, there is provided the method asdescribed above wherein a plate is disposed in the middle of the unitingpassage in a plane transverse to a flow direction of the viscous fluidsthrough the uniting passage, said plate having at least one orificetherein for passing the viscous fluids.

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus forproducing solidified articles having a predetermined composite patternformed of at least two kinds of viscous fluids distinct from each otherin color, said apparatus comprising:

-   -   a first nozzle having at least one discrete passage per each of        said viscous fluids for separately guiding a predetermined        amount of each of the viscous fluids, and at least one discrete        passage outlet per each of said viscous fluids separately guided        through said at least one discrete passage, each of said at        least one discrete passage outlet per each of said viscous fluid        being arranged in a plane,    -   means for supplying said at least two kinds of viscous fluids to        said at least one discrete passage per each of said viscous        fluids in said first nozzle,    -   a second nozzle having at least one uniting passage        communicating with said discrete passage outlets discharging at        least two kinds of the viscous fluids among all of said discrete        passage outlets in the first nozzle, and at least one uniting        passage outlet for discharging said viscous fluids guided        through said at least one uniting passage, and    -   a conveyer for receiving and transferring all kinds of said        viscous fluids discharged through said at least one uniting        passage outlet in the second nozzle.

According to the present invention, there is provided the apparatus ofthe above type wherein said discrete passage outlets of the first nozzleare arranged in said plane so that at least one discrete passage outletis surrounded by rest of the discrete passage outlets.

According to the present invention, there is provided the apparatus ofthe above type wherein said second nozzle further has at least onesecond discrete passage communicating with said at least one discretepassage outlet of said first nozzle, and at least one second discretepassage outlet for discharging said viscous fluids guided through saidat least one second discrete passage.

According to the present invention, there is provided the apparatus ofthe above type further comprising a timing means for controlling timingfor discharging the viscous fluids through said at least one unitingpassage outlet and said at least one second discrete passage outlet ofthe second nozzle so that discharge of the viscous fluid through said atleast one second discrete passage outlet starts later and ends earlierthan discharge of the viscous fluids through said at least one unitingpassage outlet.

According to the present invention, there is provided the apparatus ofthe above type further comprising cutting means for cutting said allkinds of said viscous fluids received on the conveyer into pieces.

According to the present invention, there is provided the apparatus ofthe above type wherein said at least one uniting passage has a platehaving at least one orifice therein for passing the viscous fluids, saidplate being disposed in the middle of the uniting passage in a planetransverse to a flow direction of the viscous fluid through the unitingpassage.

According to the present invention, there is provided the apparatus ofthe above type further comprising rotatably driving means for rotatingsaid first nozzle and/or said second nozzle around an axis perpendicularto said plane wherein discrete passage outlets of the first nozzle arearranged.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method forproducing solidified articles having a predetermined composite patternformed of at least two kinds of viscous fluids distinct from each otherin color, said method comprising the steps of:

-   -   supplying said at least two kinds of viscous fluids separately        in a predetermined ratio,    -   passing each of said separately supplied viscous fluids through        at least one discrete passage per each of said viscous fluids        for separately guiding each of said viscous fluids,    -   discharging said viscous fluids from said at least one discrete        passage per each of said viscous fluids through at least one        discrete passage outlet per each of said separately guided        viscous fluids, each of said at least one discrete passage        outlet per each of the viscous fluid being arranged in a plane,    -   passing at least two kinds of said viscous fluids of all the        discharged viscous fluids through at least one uniting passage,    -   discharging said at least two kinds of said viscous fluids from        said at least one uniting passage through at least one uniting        passage outlet provided at one end of said at least one uniting        passage,    -   receiving and transferring all kinds of said viscous fluids        including said viscous fluids discharged through said at least        one uniting passage outlet on a conveyer to form solidified        articles.

According to the present invention, there is provided the method asdescribed above wherein said discrete passage outlets of the firstnozzle are arranged in said plane so that at least one discrete passageoutlet is surrounded by rest of the discrete passage outlets of thefirst nozzle.

According to the present invention, there is provided the method asdescribed above wherein the viscous fluid discharged through said atleast one discrete passage outlet is passed through at least one seconddiscrete passage in stead of said uniting passage, discharged from saidsecond discrete passage through at least one second discrete passageoutlet provided at one end of said at least one second discrete passage,and received and transferred on the conveyer to form the solidifiedarticles together with the rest of the viscous fluids.

According to the present invention, there is provided the method asdescribed above wherein said steps of supplying said at least two kindsof viscous fluids separately; passing each of said separately suppliedviscous fluids; discharging said viscous fluids from said at least onediscrete passage; passing at least two kinds of said viscous fluids; anddischarging said at least two kinds of said viscous fluids from said atleast one uniting passage are carried out continuously to form anelongate aggregate of solidified articles.

According to the present invention, there is provided the method asdescribed above further comprising a step of cutting said elongateaggregate of solidified articles received on the conveyer into pieces.

According to the present invention, there is provided the method asdescribed above wherein said steps of supplying said at least two kindsof viscous fluids separately; passing each of said separately suppliedviscous fluids; discharging said viscous fluids from said at least onediscrete passage; passing at least two kinds of said viscous fluids; anddischarging said at least two kinds of said viscous fluids from theuniting passage are carried out intermittently.

According to the present invention, there is provided the method asdescribed above wherein a timing for discharging the viscous fluidthrough said at least one uniting passage outlet and said at least onesecond discrete passage outlet of the second nozzle is controlled sothat discharge of the viscous fluid through said at least one seconddiscrete passage outlet starts later and ends earlier than discharge ofthe viscous fluids through said at least one uniting passage outlet.

According to the present invention, there is provided the method asdescribed above wherein a plate is disposed in the middle of the unitingpassage in a plane transverse to a flow direction of the viscous fluidthrough the uniting passage, said plate having at least one orificetherein for passing the viscous fluids.

According to the present invention, there is provided the method asdescribed above wherein said first nozzle and/or said second nozzle arerotated around an axis perpendicular to said plane wherein discretepassage outlets of the first nozzle are arranged.

In the present invention, “at least two viscous fluids distinct fromeach other in color” means two kinds of viscous fluids which aredifferent in strength of color, or thickness of color, or in tone, andadditionally in other properties such as viscosity.

The solidified article having a “composite pattern” include a solidifiedarticle having a pattern wherein the boundaries in a specific patternsuch as striped or staggered pattern formed of at least two viscousfluids are mingled or mixed on at least a portion of the solidifiedarticle, or a solidified article having a marbled pattern on a portionof or entire body of the solidified article.

The at least one discrete passage per each of said viscous fluids forseparately guiding each of the viscous fluids may be an independentsingle passage, or a branched passage, and these may be employed incombination as desired. The discrete passage per each of said viscousfluids may be provided as follows:

-   -   one discrete passage is provided for guiding one kind of viscous        fluid so that the total number of the discrete passage is equal        to the number of kinds of the viscous fluids;    -   two or more discrete passages are provided for guiding each of        the viscous fluids;    -   two or more discrete passages are provided for guiding one kind        of viscous fluid, and branched discrete passages are provided        for guiding other viscous fluids;    -   branched discrete passages are provided for guiding each of the        viscous fluids; or other combinations of the discrete passages        may also be employed as desired. In any case, two or more kinds        of viscous fluids are not guided in a single discrete passage.        The viscous fluids are never mixed in the discrete passage.

The discrete passage outlets may be arranged in a plane facing a unitmold or a conveyer regularly or irregularly. For example, in the casewherein two kinds of the viscous fluids A and B are employed, thediscrete passages for guiding the viscous fluids A and B may be arrangedregularly such as “ABAB . . . ”, “AABAAB . . . ”, or “ABAABBAAABBB . . .”, or irregularly such as “AABABBAB . . . ”. The discrete passages maybe arranged adjacent to each other or arbitrary. The configuration andnumber of the discrete passage outlets may be determined one by one, asa unit, or arbitrary.

The unit mold means a mold for forming a single solidified articleitself.

The uniting passage means a passage for collecting the streams of atleast two viscous fluids discharged through at least two discretepassage outlets. When this uniting passage is configured so that theinner surface there of is tapered radially inwardly toward the flowdirection of the viscous fluids, the streams of the viscous fluidsdischarged through the discrete passage outlets may be collected,merged, and/or mixed as desired. The uniting passage may be of any crosssectional shape or number, and a plurality of uniting passages arearbitrarily combined in parallel or in series in the flow direction ofthe viscous fluids as desired. The uniting passage may have a platehaving at least one orifice therein, disposed in the middle of theuniting passage in a plane transverse to the flow direction of theviscous fluids through the uniting passage. With this embodiment, apredetermined composite pattern or a predetermined mingled compositepattern of the solidified article is suitably mixed to a desired extentdepending on the combination thereof.

A timing means may be, for example, means for setting and maintainingthe discharge timing of each of the viscous fluids at a depositor formeasuring each of the viscous fluids, or other known means may be used.

In the present invention, “carry out the step of ‘supplying said atleast two kinds of viscous fluids separately’ intermittently” means tomeasure each of the viscous fluids separately, and to supply each of themeasured viscous fluids at every predetermined time. As a specific meansfor this process, a depositor (a device for charging predeterminedamount) may be used.

On the other hand, “carry out the step of ‘supplying said at least twokinds of viscous fluids separately’ continuously” means to supply eachof the viscous fluids continuously at a predetermined ratio withoutstopping. As a specific means for this process, a pump for highviscosity fluids such as a gear pump or a snake pump may be used.

Similarly, “carry out the steps of ‘passing each of said separatelysupplied viscous fluids’, ‘discharging said viscous fluids from said atleast one discrete passage’, ‘passing at least two kinds of said viscousfluids’, and ‘discharging said at least two kinds of said viscous fluidsfrom the uniting passage’ intermittently”, and “carry out the steps of‘passing each of said separately supplied viscous fluids’, ‘dischargingsaid viscous fluids from said at least one discrete passage’, ‘passingat least two kinds of said viscous fluids’, and ‘discharging said atleast two kinds of said viscous fluids from the uniting passage’continuously” is interpreted in the similar manner as described above.

The conveyer used for the present invention functions also as molds, andspecific embodiments of the conveyer may include a conveyer having asimple plane surface (FIG. 1(c)), a conveyer having side walls on eithersides of the belt (FIG. 11(a)), a conveyer substantially having molds(FIG. 11(b)), and a conveyer having a belt provided with desiredconfiguration thereon (FIG. 11(c)). Specifically, when the conveyerhaving side walls on either sides of the belt (FIG. 11(a)), or theconveyer substantially having molds (FIG. 11(b)) is used, fluidizationof the viscous fluids may be stopped within a desired area depending onthe fluidizing degree (viscosity) of the viscous fluids. When theconveyer having a belt provided with desired configuration thereon (FIG.11(c)) is used, solidified articles of a specific configuration having apredetermined composite pattern may be mass-produced.

In the present invention, the solidified article to be produced and theviscous fluids may be a food material which is in a liquid state and canbe solidified into a solid state by cooling or heating, for example,chocolate, ice deserts, jelly, butter, cheese and so on. When thepresent molding system, method for producing a solidified article, anapparatus, or a method for producing solidified articles is used withsuch food materials, solidified food articles having stabilizedappearance and quality can be mass-produced easily and accurately.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are schematic perspective exploded views of anembodiment of a molding system of the present invention, wherein FIG.1(a) shows an embodiment of a porous nozzle, while FIG. 1(b) shows anembodiment of a uniting nozzle, and FIG. 1(c) is a schematic perspectiveview of an example of a unit mold for forming a single solidifiedarticle.

FIG. 2(a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the porous nozzle ofthe present invention taken along line 2 a—2 a in FIGS. 1(a) and 9(a),and FIG. 2(b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the porousnozzle of the present invention taken along line 2 b—2 b in FIGS. 1(b)and 9(b).

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are schematic perspective views of other embodimentsof the porous nozzle of FIGS. 1(a) and 9(a).

FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c) are schematic perspective views of other embodimentsof the uniting nozzle of FIGS. 1(b) and 9(b).

FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are schematic perspective exploded views of anotherembodiment of the molding system of the present invention, wherein FIG.5(a) shows another embodiment of the porous nozzle, while FIG. 5(b)shows another embodiment of the uniting nozzle, and FIG. 5(c) is aschematic perspective view of another example of the unit mold forforming a single solidified article.

FIG. 6(a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the porous nozzle ofthe present invention taken along line 6 a—6 a in FIGS. 5(a) and 10(a),and FIG. 6(b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the porousnozzle of the present invention taken along line 6 b—6 b in FIGS. 5(a)and 10(a).

FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are schematic perspective views of other embodimentsof the porous nozzle of FIGS. 5(a) and 10(a).

FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are schematic perspective views of other embodimentsof the uniting nozzle of FIGS. 5(b) and 10(b).

FIG. 9 is an exploded schematic perspective view of an embodiment of theapparatus for producing solidified articles of the present invention,wherein FIG. 9(a) shows an embodiment of the porous nozzle, FIG. 9(b)shows an embodiment of the uniting nozzle, and FIG. 9(c) shows anexample of a belt conveyer.

FIG. 10 is an exploded schematic perspective view of another embodimentof the apparatus for producing solidified articles of the presentinvention, wherein FIG. 10(a) shows another embodiment of the porousnozzle, FIG. 10(b) shows another embodiment of the uniting nozzle, andFIG. 10(c) shows another example of a belt conveyer.

FIGS. 11(a) to 11(c) are schematic perspective views of otherembodiments of the conveyers shown in FIGS. 9(c) and 10(c).

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be explained in more detail withreference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

EXAMPLE 1

The molding system of the present invention is used for producing asolidified article, for example, a solidified chocolate, having apredetermined composite pattern formed of two kinds of viscous fluids,for example, liquid chocolate A and B. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, themolding system includes a porous nozzle 10 having a plurality ofdiscrete passages 11, 12 (FIGS. 2(a), 2(b)) penetrating therethrough forseparately guiding predetermined amount of each of the liquid chocolateA and B which has been measured separately in advance by a depositor(not shown), and a uniting nozzle 20 (FIG. 1(b)) communicating withoutlets 11 a′ to 11 h′ and 12 a′ to 12 h′ of the discrete passages 11,12 for collecting streams of the liquid chocolate A, B together whichhave been guided by the discrete passages 11, 12 to further guide thesame to a unit mold 30.

The plurality of discrete passages 11 (FIG. 2(b)) penetrating the porousnozzle 10 guide the liquid chocolate A to the unit mold 30, and each ofthe discrete passages 11 has an inlet 11 a to 11 h for receiving theliquid chocolate measured by the depositor, and an outlet 11 a′ to 11 h′for simultaneously discharging the liquid chocolate A received throughthe inlet 11 a to 11 h to the unit mold 30. On the other hand, theplurality of discrete passages 12 (FIG. 2(a)) penetrating the porousnozzle 10 guide the liquid chocolate B to the unit mold 30, and each ofthe discrete passages 12 has an inlet 12 a to 12 h for receiving theliquid chocolate measured by the depositor, and an outlet 12 a′ to 12 h′for simultaneously discharging the liquid chocolate B received throughthe inlet 12 a to 12 h to the unit mold 30. The outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′of the discrete passages 11 and the outlets 12 a′ to 12 h′ of thediscrete passages 12 are arranged alternately in circles in apredetermined plane facing the unit mold 30, through which outlets theliquid chocolate A and B are discharged separately and generallysimultaneously in a predetermined state. The nozzle for separatelyguiding each of the liquid chocolate A and B to the unit mold 30 may bea nozzle wherein the liquid chocolate A and B are guided by additionaldiscrete passages branched upstream of the discrete passages 11, 12, ora porous nozzle wherein the discrete passages 11, 12 themselves arebranched (FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b)) to be discussed later, in place of theporous nozzle 10.

The uniting nozzle 20 communicating with the outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′ ofthe discrete passages 11 and the outlets 12 a′ to 12 h′ of the discretepassages 12 has a contour of a reversed truncated cone having a taperedsurface as shown in FIG. 1(b). The uniting nozzle 20 receives thestreams of the liquid chocolate A, B discharged through the outlets 11a′ to 11 h′ of the discrete passage 11 and the outlets 12 a′ to 12 h′ ofthe discrete passage 12 via an inlet 21 a, collects the received streamsof the chocolate A, B together by a uniting passage 21, and dischargesthe chocolate A, b through an outlet 21 a′ provided at the lower end ofthe uniting nozzle 20, there by guiding the chocolate A, B to the unitmold 30. The uniting nozzle for collecting the streams of the chocolateA, B together for guiding the same to the unit mold 30 may be otheruniting nozzles 40 as shown in FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c) to be discussed later,in place of the uniting nozzle 20. By the uniting nozzle, the streams ofthe liquid chocolate A, B discharged from the porous nozzle 10 in apredetermined state may be merged into a predetermined collected state,or into a predetermined suitably mixed state for discharging therefrom.

As explained above, according to the molding system of the presentinvention, each of the liquid chocolate A, B measured in advance by thedepositor (not shown) is received by the porous nozzle 10 through theinlets 11 a to 11 h of the discrete passages 11 and the inlets 12 a to12 h of the discrete passages 12, and discharged through the pluralityof outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′ and 12 a′ to 12 h′ arranged alternately incircles in the predetermined plane facing the unit mold 30. The streamsof the discharged chocolate A, B are collected together by the unitingpassage 21 of the uniting nozzle 20, and guided to an accommodatingportion of the unit mold 30.

For producing a solidified article, for example, a solidified chocolate,having a predetermined composite pattern formed of two kinds of viscousfluids, for example, liquid chocolate A, B, using the above moldingsystem, first predetermined amounts of each of the liquid chocolate A, Bare separately measured by a depositor (not shown), separately guidedthrough the discrete passages 11, 12 of the porous nozzle 10, dischargedthrough the outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′ of the discrete passages 11 and theoutlets of 12 a′ to 12 h′ of the discrete passages 12 arrangedalternately in circles in the predetermined plane facing the unit mold30. The streams of the discharged chocolate A, B are collected togetherby the uniting passage 21 of the uniting nozzle 20, guided to theaccommodating portion 31 of the unit mold 30, and molded and solidifiedin the unit mold 30, thereby producing the solidified chocolate (asolidified article) having a predetermined composite pattern. In moldingand solidifying the chocolate A, B in the above process, a coolingmachine may additionally be used, or a heating machine may also be useddepending on the viscous fluid to be molded and solidified.

According to the present invention, the uniting nozzle 20 of the presentembodiment may be eliminated in practice. In this alternate embodiment,mingling of the composite pattern formed of the two liquid chocolate A,B may be reduced. In producing a solidified chocolate having apredetermined composite pattern with the molding system of the presentinvention which is not equipped with the uniting nozzle 20, like theprocess as described above, first predetermined amounts of each of theliquid chocolate A, B are separately measured by a depositor (notshown), separately guided through the discrete passages 11, 12 of theporous nozzle 10, and discharged through the outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′ ofthe discrete passages 11 and the outlets of 12 a′ to 12 h′ of thediscrete passages 12 arranged alternately in circles in thepredetermined plane facing the unit mold 30 into the accommodatingportion 31 of the unit mold 30. The liquid chocolate A, B poured intothe accommodating portion 31 of the unit mold 30 is molded andsolidified therein, thereby giving a solidified chocolate (solidifiedarticle) having a predetermined composite pattern.

In the molding system of the present invention, other porous nozzles 10as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) may be used in place of the porousnozzle 10 in FIG. 1(a). The porous nozzle 10 shown in FIG. 3(a) isprovided with a surrounding wall 13 disposed radially outwardly of andsurrounding the inlets 11 a to 11 h of the discrete passages 11(corresponding to the discrete passages 11 in FIG. 2(b)), and asurrounding wall 14 disposed radially inwardly of the inlets 11 a to 11h of the discrete passages 11 (corresponding to the discrete passages 11in FIG. 2(b)) and radially outwardly of and surrounding the inlets 12 ato 12 h of the discrete passages 12 (corresponding to the discretepassages 12 in FIG. 2(a)). With the porous nozzle 10 (FIG. 3(a)), eachof the liquid chocolate A, B may be separately introduced into areasdefined by the surrounding walls 13, 14, respectively, so that theliquid chocolate A, B may be received through the respective inlets 11 ato 11 h and 12 a to 12 h of the discrete passages, and dischargedthrough the outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′ and 12 a′ to 12 h′.

The porous nozzle 10 in FIG. 3(b) is provided with a discrete passage 11(corresponding to the discrete passage 11 in FIG. 2(b)) branched in themiddle and having a single inlet 11′ and a plurality of outlets 11 a′ to11 h′, and a discrete passage 12 (corresponding to the discrete passage12 in FIG. 2(a)) branched in the middle and having a single inlet 12′and a plurality of outlets 12 a′ to 12 h′. With the porous nozzle 10(FIG. 3(b)), each of the liquid chocolate A, B may be introduced intothe single inlet 11′, 12′ of each of the discrete passages,respectively, so that the liquid chocolate may be discharged in apredetermined state through the outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′ and 12 a′ to 12h′.

In the molding system of the present invention, other uniting nozzles 40as shown in FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c) may be used in place of the unitingnozzle 20 in FIG. 1(b). The uniting nozzle 40 as shown in FIG. 4(a) isprovided with a uniting passage 41 having a single inlet 41 a and threeoutlets 41 a′, 41 a″, 41′″, so that it functions to receive the streamsof the liquid chocolate A, B (viscous fluids) discharged from the porousnozzle 10 through the inlet 41 a, and merge the streams before they aredischarged. Therefore, a solidified chocolate (solidified article)having a suitably mingled predetermined composite pattern may beproduced.

The uniting nozzle 40 in FIG. 4(b) is a modified embodiment of theuniting nozzle 40 in FIG. 4(a), wherein the uniting nozzle is providedwith a plate 42 having an orifice 42 a, disposed in the middle of theuniting passage 41 of the uniting nozzle in a plane transverse to a flowdirection of the liquid chocolate A, B (viscous fluid) through theuniting passage. This uniting nozzle 40 functions to collect the streamsof the chocolate A, B (viscous fluids) discharged through the outlets 11a′ to 11 h′ and 12 a′ to 12 h′ of the porous nozzle 10 together, mergesthe streams, and wring out the merged streams of the liquid chocolate.Thus, a solidified chocolate (solidified article) having a predeterminedcomposite pattern suitably mingled to a predetermined degree can beproduced.

The uniting nozzle 40 as shown in FIG. 4(c) is a modified embodiment ofthe uniting nozzle 20 in FIG. 1(b) wherein the uniting nozzle isprovided with a plate 42 having a plurality of orifices 42 a to 42 c(three orifices are shown in the drawings), disposed in the middle ofthe uniting passage 41 of the uniting nozzle in a plane transverse to aflow direction of the liquid chocolate A, B through the uniting passage.The streams of the liquid chocolate A, B discharged from the porousnozzle 10 through the outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′ and 12 a′ to 12 h′ isreceived through the inlet 41 a, collected together, passed through theorifices 42 a to 42 c disposed in the middle of the passage, anddischarged through the outlet 41 a′. Thus, the streams of the liquidchocolate A, B (a plurality of viscous fluids) discharged from thediscrete passages 11, 12 through the outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′ and 12 a′ to12 h′ may be merged to a desired extent and discharged in apredetermined state, thereby giving a solidified chocolate (solidifiedarticle) having a predetermined composite pattern suitably mingled to adesired extent.

In this Example, the porous nozzle 10 has been described as having thediscrete passages 11, 12 for separately guiding each of the liquidchocolate A, B integrally formed therein, but the porous nozzle of thepresent invention is not limited thereto. For example, the porous nozzlemay be an assembly of a plurality of parts such as a nozzle providedwith a discrete passage 11 for guiding mainly the liquid chocolate A,and a nozzle provided with a discrete passage 12 for guiding mainly theliquid chocolate B. With this embodiment, a solidified chocolate (asolidified article) having a predetermined composite pattern may beproduced simply by arbitrarily combining each parts, and each parts maybe detached easily for cleaning, thus being remarkably advantageous.

Further, the number of the outlets of each passage (discrete passages11, 12 and uniting passage 21) may be decided as desired; theconfiguration of the outlet may be decided as desired, such as triangle,rectangle, oval, or the like; and the arrangement of the outlets may bedecided as desired, for example, the outlets may be arranged alternatelyin circles, or in a staggered pattern, regularly, or irregularly.

The unit mold used in the present invention may have any shape, such asa shape representing a desired article. Further, the composite patternto be formed with the solidified chocolate (solidified article) may alsobe controlled by changing the point in the unit mold 30 on which theliquid chocolate A, B (viscous fluids) falls which is finally dischargedthrough the outlets disposed facing the unit mold 30. Alternatively, theconfigurations of the porous nozzle provided with the discrete passagesand the uniting nozzle provided with the uniting passage is not limitedto the reversed truncated cone, and may be any desired shape such as arectangular parallelepiped.

EXAMPLE 2

Another embodiment of the molding system of the present invention is nowdescribed with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

This molding system is used for producing a covered solidified chocolate(solidified article) wherein a liquid chocolate C is accommodated in themiddle covered with two kinds of liquid chocolate A, B (viscous fluids)forming a predetermined composite pattern therearound. The moldingsystem includes a porous nozzle 50 having a plurality of discretepassages 51 to 53 (FIGS. 6(a), 6(b)) penetrating therethrough forseparately guiding predetermined amount of each of the liquid chocolateA to C which have been measured in advance by a depositor (not shown),and a uniting nozzle 60 (FIG. 5(b)) communication with the outlets 51 a′to 51 h′, 52 a′ to 52 h′, 53 a′ of the discrete passages 51 to 53. Aunit mold 70 (FIG. 5(c)) for forming a single solidified chocolate isused with these nozzles. Timing for discharging each of the liquidchocolate A to C from each of the discrete passages is controlled at thedepositor such that discharging of the liquid chocolate A and B from thediscrete passages through the outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′, 52 a′ to 52 h′,respectively, start generally simultaneously, but discharging of theliquid chocolate C through the outlet 53 a′ starts later and stopsearlier than the discharging of the liquid chocolate A and B, and thistiming is maintained.

The plurality of discrete passages 51 (FIG. 6(b)) penetrating the porousnozzle 50 guide the liquid chocolate A to the unit mold 70. The discretepassages 51 are provided with inlets 51 a to 51 h for receivingpredetermined amount of the liquid chocolate A measured by the depositorin advance, and outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ for discharging the liquidchocolate A received through the inlets to the unit mold 70.

The plurality of discrete passages 52 (FIG. 6(a)) penetrating the porousnozzle 50 guide the liquid chocolate B to the unit mold 70 similarly tothe discrete passages 51. The discrete passages 52 are provided withinlets 52 a to 52 h for receiving predetermined amount of the liquidchocolate B measured by the depositor in advance, and outlets 52 a′ to52 h′ for discharging the liquid chocolate B received through the inletsto the unit mold 70.

The outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ of the discrete passage 51, and the outlets52 a′ to 52 h′ of the discrete passage 52 are arranged alternately incircles in a predetermined plane facing the unit mold 70. The singlediscrete passage 53 penetrating the center of the porous nozzle 50guides the liquid chocolate C to the unit mold 70, and is provided withan outlet 53 a for receiving predetermined amount of the liquidchocolate C measured by a depositor in advance, and an outlet 53 a′ fordischarging the liquid chocolate C received through the inlet 53 a tothe unit mold 70. With this structure, the liquid chocolate A and B aredischarged through the outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ and 52 a′ to 52 h′arranged as desired into the unit mold 70 in a predetermined state, andthe liquid chocolate C is discharged into the center of the unit mold70. The nozzle for separately guiding each of the liquid chocolate A toC to the unit mold 70 may be a nozzle wherein the liquid chocolate A toC are guided by additional discrete passages branched upstream of thediscrete passages 51 to 53 of the porous nozzle, or a porous nozzlewherein the discrete passages 51 to 52 themselves are branched (FIGS.7(a), 7(b)) as to be discussed later, in place of the porous nozzle 50.

The uniting nozzle 60 communicating with the outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′, 52a′ to 52 h′, 53 a′ of the discrete passages 51 to 53 has a contour of areversed truncated cone having a tapered surface as shown in FIG. 5(b).The uniting nozzle 60 receives the streams of the liquid chocolate A toC discharged from the discrete passages 51 to 53 through the outlets 51a′ to 51 h′, 52 a′ to 52 h′, 53 a′ via an inlet 61 a, collects thereceived streams of the chocolate A to C together by a uniting passage61, and discharge the chocolate A to C through an outlet 61 a′ providedat the lower end of the uniting nozzle 60, thereby guiding the chocolateA to C to the unit mold 70. The uniting nozzle for guiding the liquidchocolate A to C discharged from the porous nozzle to the unit mold 70may be other uniting nozzles 80 as shown in FIGS. 8(a), 8(b) to bediscussed later, in place of the uniting nozzle 60. By the unitingnozzle, the streams of the liquid chocolate A to C discharged from theporous nozzle 50 in a predetermined state may be merged into apredetermined collected state for discharging therefrom.

In molding the liquid chocolate A to C in the unit mold 70 in thisExample, discharge of the liquid chocolate C is controlled to startlater and stop earlier than the discharge of the liquid chocolate A andB, so that previously discharged liquid chocolate A and B first coverthe bottom portion of the accommodating portion 71 of the unit mold 70(the top portion when the article is demolded) and the vicinity thereof,and then the liquid chocolate C is discharged on and in the center ofthe previously covered portion. The liquid chocolate C is finallycovered by the liquid chocolate A and B.

As described above, according to the molding system of the presentinvention, the predetermined amount of liquid chocolate A to C measuredby the depositor (not shown ) in advance are separately received throughthe inlets 51 a to 51 h, 52 a to 52 h, 53 a of the discrete passages 51to 53 of the porous nozzle 50, discharged through the plurality ofoutlets 51 a′ to 51 h′, 52 a′ to 52 h′, 53 a′ arranged alternately incircles in the predetermined plane facing the unit mold 70. The streamsof the liquid chocolate A to C discharged from the porous nozzle 50 arethen collected together by a uniting nozzle 60, and guided to theaccommodating portion 71 of the unit mold 70.

In producing a covered solidified chocolate (solidified article) havingthe liquid chocolate C accommodated inside and the predeterminedcomposite pattern formed of the two kinds of liquid chocolate A, B(viscous fluids) covering the liquid chocolate C with the molding systemdescribed above, first predetermined amounts of each of the liquidchocolate A to C are separately measured by a depositor (not shown).Then each of the predetermined amount of the liquid chocolate A and B isguided by the discrete passages 51 and 52, respectively, so that theliquid chocolate A and B are discharged through the outlets 51 a′ to 51h′, and 52 a′ to 52 h′, respectively, arranged alternately in circles inthe predetermined plane facing the unit mold 70, into the inner surfaceof the accommodating portion 71 of the unit mold 70, and thepredetermined amount of the liquid chocolate C is guided by the discretepassage 53, so that the liquid chocolate C is discharged through theoutlet 53 a′ surrounded by the outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ and 52 a′ to 52 h′and placed in the center thereof into approximately the center of theaccommodating portion 71 of the unit mold 70. In this process, thedischarge of the liquid chocolate C is controlled to start later andstop earlier than the discharge of the liquid chocolate A and B. Thestreams of the liquid chocolate A and B discharged through the outlets51 a′ to 51 h′ and 52 a′ to 52 h′ arranged alternately in circles andthe stream of the liquid chocolate C discharged through the outlet 53 a′surrounded by the outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ and 52 a′ to 52 h′ arecollected together by the uniting nozzle 60, and guided to theaccommodating portion 71 of the unit mold 70 to mold and solidify theliquid chocolate A to C, thereby producing the covered solidifiedchocolate (covered solidified article) having the predeterminedcomposite pattern. In molding and solidifying the liquid chocolate A toC in the above process, a cooling machine may additionally be used, or aheating machine may also be used depending on the viscous fluid to bemolded and solidified.

In the molding system of the present invention, the porous nozzle 50(FIG. 5(a)) may be replace by other porous nozzles 50 as shown in FIGS.7(a) and 7(b). The porous nozzle 50 as shown in FIG. 7(a) is providedwith a surrounding wall 54 disposed radially outwardly of andsurrounding the inlets 51 a to 51 h of the discrete passages 51(corresponding to the discrete passages 51 in FIG. 6(b)), a surroundingwall 55 disposed radially inwardly of the inlets 51 a to 51 h of thediscrete passages 51 (corresponding to the discrete passages 51 in FIG.6(b)) and radially outwardly of and surrounding the inlets 52 a to 52 hof the discrete passages 52 (corresponding to the discrete passages 52in FIG. 6(a)), and a surrounding wall 56 disposed radially inwardly ofthe inlets 52 a to 52 h of the discrete passage 52 (corresponding to thediscrete passage 52 in FIG. 6(a)) and radially outwardly of andsurrounding the inlet 53 a of the discrete passage 53. With the porousnozzle 50 (FIG. 7(a)), each of the liquid chocolate A to C may beseparately introduced into areas defined by the surrounding walls 54 to56, respectively, so that the liquid chocolate A to C may be receivedthrough the respective inlets 51 a to 51 h, 52 a to 52 h, and 53 a ofthe discrete passages, and discharged through the outlets 51 a′ to 51h′, 52 a′ to 52 h′, and 53 a′.

The porous nozzle 50 as shown in FIG. 7(b) is provided with a discretepassage 51 (corresponding to the discrete passages 51 in FIG. 6(b))having a single inlet 51′ and a plurality of outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ andbranched in the middle, a discrete passage 52 (corresponding to thediscrete passages 52 in FIG. 6(a)) having a single inlet 52′ and aplurality of outlets 52 a′ to 52 h′ and branched in the middle, and adiscrete passage 53 (corresponding to the discrete passage 53 in FIGS.6(a) and 6(b)) having a single inlet 53 a and a single outlet 53 a′.With the porous nozzle (FIG. 7(b)), each of the liquid chocolate A to Cmay be introduced through the single inlet 51′, 52′, 53′, respectively,of each of the discrete passages, and discharged through the outlets 51a′ to 51 h′, 52 a′ to 52 h′, and 53 a′, respectively.

Further, in the molding system of the present invention, the abovementioned uniting nozzle 60 (FIG. 5(b)) may be replaced by other unitingnozzles 80 as shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b). The uniting nozzle 80 asshown in FIG. 8(a) is provided with a uniting passage 81 defined betweentwo coaxially disposed inner and outer cylinders having radiallyinwardly tapered surfaces, and communicating with the outlets 51 a′ to51 h′, 52 a′ to 52 h′ of the discrete passages 51, 52 of the porousnozzle 50 in FIGS. 5(a), 6(a), and 6(b), and a discrete passage 82defined by the inner cylinder, and communicating with the outlet 53 a′of the discrete passage 53 of the porous nozzle 50. The uniting passage81 receives through the inlet 81 a streams of the liquid chocolate A andB discharged through the outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′, 52 a′ to 52 h′ of thediscrete passages 51, 52 of the porous nozzle 50, collects them, anddischarge the same through the outlet 81 a′. On the other hand, thediscrete passage 82 receives through the inlet 82 a a stream of theliquid chocolate C discharged through the outlet 53 a′ of the discretepassage 53 of the porous nozzle 50, and discharge the same as it isthrough the outlet 82 a′. As mentioned above, timing for dischargingeach of the liquid chocolate A to C from the outlets 81 a′, 82 a′ iscontrolled such that discharging of the liquid chocolate C via thediscrete passage 53 of the porous nozzle 50 through the outlet 82 a′ ofthe discrete passage 82 of the uniting nozzle 80 starts later and stopsearlier than the discharging of the liquid chocolate A and B via thediscrete passages 51, 52 of the porous nozzle 50 through the outlet 81a′ of the uniting passage 81 of the uniting nozzle 80. With the unitingnozzle 80 (FIG. 8(a)), the liquid chocolates A to C can be poured intothe unit mold so that the liquid chocolate C is accommodated inside andsurrounded by the liquid chocolate A and B, while the streams of theliquid chocolate A and B are collected together into a predeterminedstate. Accordingly, the covered solidified chocolate wherein the liquidchocolate C is accommodated in the middle covered with two kinds ofliquid chocolate A and B forming a predetermined composite patterntherearound can accurately be produced.

The uniting nozzle 80 as shown in FIG. 8(b) is a modification of theuniting nozzle 80 as shown in FIG. 8(a) wherein a plate 83 havingorifices is provided in the middle of the uniting passage 81 in a planetransverse to the flow direction of the liquid chocolate A, B (viscousfluids) through the uniting nozzle 80. The streams of the liquidchocolate A and B discharged from the discrete passages 51, 52 of theporous nozzle 50 through the outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′, 52 a′ to 52 h′ arereceived through the inlet 81 a, collected together, and passed throughthe plurality of orifices (e.g. 83 a, 83 b) of the plate 83. Further,the streams of the liquid chocolate passed through the plurality oforifices are merged again, and discharged through the outlet 81 a′. Thetiming of discharge of the liquid chocolate A to C is the same asformerly described with reference to the uniting nozzle 80 as shown inFIG. 8(a). With the uniting nozzle 80 (FIG. 8(b)), the liquid chocolatesA to C can be poured into the unit mold so that the liquid chocolate Cis accommodated inside and surrounded by the liquid chocolate A and B,while the streams of the liquid chocolate A and B are collected togetherinto a predetermined state. Accordingly, the covered solidifiedchocolate wherein the liquid chocolate C is accommodated in the middlecovered with two kinds of liquid chocolate A and B forming apredetermined composite pattern therearound can be produced easily andaccurately.

In the present Example, the porous nozzle 50 has been described ashaving the discrete passages 51 to 53 for separately guiding each of theliquid chocolate A to C integrally formed therein, but the porous nozzleof the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the porousnozzle may be an assembly of a plurality of parts such as a nozzleprovided with a discrete passage 51 for guiding mainly the liquidchocolate A, a nozzle provided with a discrete passage 52 for guidingmainly the liquid chocolate B, and a nozzle provided with a discretepassage 53 for guiding mainly the liquid chocolate C. With thisembodiment, a covered solidified chocolate (a solidified article) havinga predetermined composite pattern may be produced simply by arbitrarilycombining each parts, and each parts may be detached easily forcleaning, thus being remarkably advantageous.

Further, the number of the outlets of each passage (discrete passages 51to 53, 82 and uniting passage 61, 81) may be decided as desired; theconfiguration of the outlet may be decided as desired, such as triangle,rectangle, oval, or the like; and the arrangement of the outlets may bedecided as desired, for example, the outlets may be arranged alternatelyin circles, or in a staggered pattern, regularly, or irregularly.

The unit mold used in the present invention may have any shape, such asa shape representing a desired article. Further, the composite patternto be formed with the solidified chocolate (solidified article) may alsobe controlled by changing the point in the unit mold on which the liquidchocolate A to C (viscous fluids) falls which is finally dischargedthrough the outlets disposed facing the unit mold. Alternatively, in theporous nozzle 50, the discrete passage 53 may be branched, and a portionof the liquid chocolate guided by the discrete passage 53 may bedischarged for use as the viscous fluid for forming the compositepattern. Further, the configurations of the porous nozzle provided withthe discrete passages and the uniting nozzle provided with the discretepassage and the uniting passage are not limited to the reversedtruncated cone, and may be any desired shape such as a rectangularparallelepiped.

EXAMPLE 3

An apparatus for producing solidified articles having a predeterminedcomposite pattern is now described with reference to FIG. 9, wherein apredetermined amount of the liquid chocolate (viscous fluids) isintermittently supplied. This apparatus is used for producing solidifiedchocolates (solidified articles) having a suitably mingled predeterminedcomposite pattern formed of the liquid chocolate A, B (viscous fluids)distinct from each other at least in color. The apparatus is mainlycomposed of: a depositor (not shown) for intermittently supplying apredetermined amount of the liquid chocolate A, B; a porous nozzle 10provided with a plurality of discrete passages 11, 12 for separatelyguiding each of the liquid chocolate A, B; a uniting nozzle 20 providedwith a uniting passage 21 communicating with the discrete passages 11,12, collecting the streams of the liquid chocolate A, B guided by thediscrete passages 11, 12, and intermittently discharging a predeterminedamount of the liquid chocolate A, B; and a conveyer 30′ for receivingand transferring the predetermined amount of the liquid chocolate A, Bintermittently discharged from the outlet 21 a′ of the uniting passage21. In this embodiment, there is also provided a mechanism for rotatablydriving the porous nozzle 10 and/or uniting nozzle 20 in one directionsuch as clockwise as shown by the arrow X, or counterclockwise as shownby the arrow X′, or in reciprocating rotation as shown by the arrow Y inFIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), around an axis perpendicular to the plane whereinoutlets 11 a′ to 11 h′ and 12 a′ to 12 h′ to be described later arearranged.

A plurality of discrete passages 11 (FIG. 2(b)) penetrating the porousnozzle 10 guide the liquid chocolate A, and have inlets 11 a to 11 h forreceiving the predetermined amount of the liquid chocolate A measured inadvance by the depositor, and outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′ for discharging thereceived liquid chocolate A. On the other hand, a plurality of discretepassages 12 (FIG. 2(a)) penetrating the porous nozzle 10 guide theliquid chocolate B, and have inlets 12 a to 12 h for receiving thepredetermined amount of the liquid chocolate B measured in advance bythe depositor, and outlets 12 a′ to 12 h′ for discharging the receivedliquid chocolate B. The outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′ of the discrete passages11 and the outlets 12 a′ to 12 h′ of the discrete passages 12 arearranged alternately in circles in a predetermined plane facing theconveyer 30′, and separately discharge the liquid chocolate A and B,respectively, in a predetermined state approximately simultaneously. Theporous nozzle for separately guiding each of the liquid chocolate A, Bmay be a nozzle

wherein the liquid chocolate A and B are separately guided by additionaldiscrete passages branched upstream of the discrete passages 11, 12, ora porous nozzle wherein the discrete passages 11, 12 themselves arebranched (FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b)) as discussed above, in place of theporous nozzle 10.

The uniting nozzle 20 communicating with the outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′, 12a′ to 12 h′ of the discrete passages 11, 12 has a contour of a reversedtruncated cone having a tapered surface as shown in FIG. 9(b). Thestreams of the liquid chocolate A, B discharged through the outlets 11a′ to 11 h′, 12 a′ to 12 h′ of the discrete passages 11, 12 are receivedthrough the inlet 21 a, collected together by a uniting passage 21, anddischarged through the outlet 21 a′ disposed at the lower end of theuniting nozzle 20, thereby guiding the liquid chocolate A, B onto theconveyer 30′. The uniting nozzle 20 for collecting together and guidingthe streams of the liquid chocolate A, B discharged from the porousnozzle may be other uniting nozzles described above as shown in FIGS.4(a) to 4(c). With the uniting nozzle, the streams of the liquidchocolate A, B discharged through the porous nozzle 10 may be collectedtogether and merged and discharged in a predetermined state.

As described above, in the apparatus for producing the solidifiedarticles, the predetermined amount of the liquid chocolate A, B measuredin advance by a depositor and intermittently supplied is separatelyreceived through the inlets 11 a to 11 h, 12 a to 12 h of the discretepassages 11, 12, and discharged through the plurality of outlets 11 a′to 11 h′, 12 a′ to 12 h′ arranged alternately in circles in thepredetermined plane facing the conveyer 30′. The streams of the liquidchocolate A, B discharged are collected together by a uniting passage 21of the uniting nozzle 20, and then guided onto the conveyer 30′.

In producing solidified chocolates (solidified articles) having asuitably mingled predetermined composite pattern formed of two kinds ofliquid chocolate A, B (viscous fluids) with the above apparatus, first,predetermined amount of each of the liquid chocolate A, B areintermittently supplied by a depositor (not shown), separately guided bythe discrete passages 11, 12 of the porous nozzle 10, and dischargedthrough the outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′, 12 a′ to 12 h′ of the discretepassages 11, 12 arranged alternately in circles in a predetermined planefacing the conveyer 30′. The streams of the liquid chocolate A, Bdischarged through the outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′, 12 a′ to 12 h′ of thediscrete passages 11, 12 are collected together by the uniting passage21 of the uniting nozzle 20, and guided onto the conveyer 30′, where theliquid chocolate A, B is solidified. Thereby a solidified chocolate (asolidified article) having a predetermined mingled composite pattern canbe produced. In molding and solidifying the liquid chocolate A, B in theabove process, a cooling machine may additionally be used, or a heatingmachine may also be used depending on the viscous fluid to be molded andsolidified. In producing solidified chocolates (solidified articles)with an apparatus of other embodiment of the present invention, theabove procedure may be followed in the similar way, and thus the processwill not be described in more detail.

In this apparatus, the porous nozzle 10 (FIG. 9(a)) may be replaced byother porous nozzles 10 described above as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b).Details of the other porous nozzles 10 as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b)are as described above, and thus will not be described here.

Further in this apparatus, the uniting nozzle 20 (FIG. 9(b)) may bereplaced by other uniting nozzles 40 described above as shown in FIGS.4(a) to 4(c). Details of the other uniting nozzles 40 as shown in FIGS.4(a) to 4(c) are as described above, and thus will not be describedhere.

The apparatus for producing solidified articles having a predeterminedcomposite pattern, wherein predetermined amount of the liquid chocolate(viscous fluids) is intermittently supplied has been described. Next, anapparatus for producing solidified articles having a predeterminedcomposite pattern, wherein the liquid chocolate is continuously suppliedat a predetermined ratio will now be described with reference to thedrawings.

The apparatus for producing solidified articles may be used forproducing solidified chocolates (solidified articles) having apredetermined mingled composite pattern formed of the liquid chocolateA, B (viscous fluids), which liquid chocolates are distinct from eachother at least in color. The apparatus is mainly composed of: a pump forhigh viscosity fluid (not shown) such as a gear pump or a snake pump,for continuously supplying each of the liquid chocolate A, B, at apredetermined ratio; a porous nozzle 10 provided with a plurality ofdiscrete passages 11, 12 for separately guiding each of the liquidchocolate A, B supplied at the predetermined ratio; a uniting nozzle 20provided with a uniting passage 21 communicating with the discretepassages 11, 12, collecting together the streams of the liquid chocolateA, B received from the porous nozzle 10 to continuously discharge theliquid chocolate at a predetermined ratio; and a conveyer 30 forreceiving and transferring the liquid chocolate A, B of thepredetermined ratio continuously discharged through the outlet 21 a′ ofthe uniting passage 21. In this embodiment, there is also provided, asin the previous embodiment, a mechanism for rotatably driving the porousnozzle 10 and/or uniting nozzle 20 in one direction such as clockwise asshown by the arrow X, or counterclockwise as shown by the arrow X′, orin reciprocating rotation as shown by the arrow Y in FIGS. 9(a) and9(b), around an axis perpendicular to the plane wherein outlets 11 a′ to11 h′ and 12 a′ to 12 h′ are arranged.

The plurality of the discrete passages 11 and 12 penetrating the porousnozzle 10 separately guide each of the liquid chocolate A, B. Each ofthe liquid chocolate A, B is continuously supplied by a pump for highviscosity fluid at a predetermined ratio.

The porous nozzle 10 for separately guiding each of the liquid chocolateA, B to the conveyer 30′ may be replaced by a nozzle wherein the liquidchocolate A and B are guided by additional discrete passages branchedupstream of the discrete passages 11, 12, or a porous nozzle wherein thediscrete passages 11, 12 themselves are branched (FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b))as described above.

The uniting nozzle 20 (FIG. 9(b)) communicating with the outlets 11 a′to 11 h′, 12 a′ to 12 h′ of the discrete passages 11, 12 has the samestructure and functions as the uniting nozzle 20 as shown in anddescribed regarding FIG. 1(b). The uniting nozzle 20 (FIG. 9(b)) forcollecting together and guiding the streams of the liquid chocolate A, Bdischarged through the discrete nozzle to the conveyer 30′ may bereplaced by other uniting nozzles 40 described above and shown in FIGS.4(a) to 4(c). With the uniting nozzle, the streams of the liquidchocolate A, B discharged through the porous nozzle 10 at thepredetermined state may be collected together and merged into apredetermined state for discharging therefrom.

As described above, with the apparatus of the present invention, theliquid chocolate A, B is continuously supplied at a predetermined ratioby a pump for high viscosity fluid (not shown) such as a gear pump or asnake pump, received through the inlets 11 a to 11 h, 12 a to 12 h ofthe discrete passages 11, 12 of the porous nozzle 10, and dischargedthrough the plurality of outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′, 12 a′ to 12 h′ arrangedalternately in circles in a plane facing the conveyer 30′. The streamsof the liquid chocolate A, B discharged through the outlets 11 a′ to 11h′, 12 a′ to 12 h′ are collected together by the uniting passage 21 ofthe uniting nozzle 20, and guided onto the conveyer 30′.

In producing solidified chocolates (solidified articles) having apredetermined mingled composite pattern formed of two kinds of liquidchocolate A, B (viscous fluids) with the above apparatus, first each ofthe liquid chocolate is continuously supplied at a predetermined ratioby a pump for high viscosity fluid (not shown), separately guidedthrough each of the discrete passages 11, 12 of the porous nozzle 10,and discharged through the outlets 11 a′ to 11 h′, 12 a′ to 12 h′ of thediscrete passages 11, 12 arranged alternately in circles in apredetermined plane facing the conveyer 30′. The streams of the liquidchocolate A, B are collected together by the uniting passage 21 of theuniting nozzle 20, guided onto the conveyer 30′, continuously solidifiedon the conveyer 30′, and cut into pieces, thereby producing solidifiedchocolates (solidified articles) having the predetermined mingledcomposite pattern.

In molding and solidifying the liquid chocolate A, B in the aboveprocess, a cooling machine may additionally be used, or a heatingmachine may also be used depending on the viscous fluid to be molded andsolidified.

In producing the solidified chocolates (solidified articles) with anapparatus of other embodiments of the present invention, the aboveprocedures may be followed. Thus, the process will not be described anyfurther.

In the present apparatus for producing the solidified chocolates, theporous nozzle 10 (FIG. 9(a)) may be replace by other porous nozzles 10described above and as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b).

In the present apparatus for producing the solidified chocolates, theuniting nozzle 20 (FIG. 9(b)) may be replace by other uniting nozzles 40described above and as shown in FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c).

In the Examples, the porous nozzle 10 has been described as having thediscrete passages 11, 12 for separately guiding each of the liquidchocolate A, B integrally formed therein, but the porous nozzle of thepresent invention is not limited thereto. For example, the porous nozzlemay be an assembly of a plurality of parts such as a nozzle providedwith a discrete passage 11 for guiding mainly the liquid chocolate A,and a nozzle provided with a discrete passage 12 for guiding mainly theliquid chocolate B. With this embodiment, a solidified chocolate (asolidified article) having a predetermined composite pattern may beproduced simply by arbitrarily combining each parts, and each parts maybe detached easily for cleaning, thus being remarkably advantageous.

Further, the number of the outlets of each passage (discrete passages11, 12 and uniting passage 21) may be decided as desired; theconfiguration of the outlet may be decided as desired, such as triangle,rectangle, oval, or the like; and the arrangement of the outlets may bedecided as desired, for example, the outlets may be arranged alternatelyin circles, or in a staggered pattern, regularly, or irregularly.

The conveyer employed in the present invention may be a conveyer 70′(FIG. 11(a)) having side walls 71′ for preventing fluidization of theliquid chocolate along both sides of the conveyer, a conveyer 70′ (FIG.11(b)) provided with accommodating portions 72′ as molds for receivingthe liquid chocolate on the conveyer belt, a conveyer 70′ (FIG. 11(c))provided with a belt having concave and convex surface 73, or a conveyerhaving these structures in arbitrary combination. The accommodatingportion 72′ may be a mold representing a desired article, or a mold ofany configuration.

Further, the composite pattern to be formed with the solidifiedchocolates (solidified articles) may also be controlled by changing thepoint in the accommodating portion 72′ of the conveyer 70′ on which theliquid chocolate A, B (viscous fluids) falls which is finally dischargedthrough the outlets disposed facing the conveyer. Alternatively, theconfigurations of the porous nozzle provided with the discrete passagesand the uniting nozzle provided with the uniting passage is not limitedto the reversed truncated cone, and may be any desired shape such as arectangular parallelepiped.

EXAMPLE 4

Another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention isdescribed with reference to FIGS. 10 and 6.

First, an apparatus for producing solidified chocolates wherein apredetermined amount of each of the liquid chocolate is intermittentlysupplied is described with reference to the drawings. The apparatus forproducing solidified articles may be used for producing coveredsolidified chocolates having the liquid chocolate C accommodated insideand the predetermined composite pattern formed of the two kinds ofliquid chocolate A, B (viscous fluids) which are distinct from eachother at least in color covering the liquid chocolate C. The apparatusis mainly composed of: a depositor (not shown) for intermittentlysupplying a predetermined amount of the liquid chocolate A to C; aporous nozzle 50 provided with a plurality of discrete passages 51 to 53for separately guiding each of the liquid chocolate A to C; a unitingnozzle 60 provided with a uniting passage 61 communicating with thediscrete passages 51 to 53, collecting the streams of the liquidchocolate A to C guided by the discrete passages 5l to 53, andintermittently discharging a predetermined amount of the liquidchocolate A to C; and a conveyer 30′ for receiving and transferring thepredetermined amount of the liquid chocolate A to C intermittentlydischarged from the outlet 61 a′ of the uniting passage 61. In thisembodiment, there is also provided a mechanism for rotatably driving theporous nozzle 50 and/or uniting nozzle 60 in one direction such asclockwise as shown by the arrow X, or counterclockwise as shown by thearrow X′, or in reciprocating rotation as shown by the arrow Y in FIGS.10(a) and 10(b), around an axis perpendicular to the plane whereinoutlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ and 52 a′ to 52 h′ are arranged.

Further, timing for discharging each of the liquid chocolate A to C fromeach of the discrete passages is controlled at the depositor such thatdischarging of the liquid chocolate A and B from the discrete passagesthrough the outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′, 52 a′ to 52 h′, respectively, startgenerally simultaneously, but discharging of the liquid chocolate Cthrough the outlet 53 a′ starts later and stops earlier than thedischarging of the liquid chocolate A and B, and this timing ismaintained.

The plurality of discrete passages 51 (FIG. 6(b)) penetrating the porousnozzle 50 guide the liquid chocolate A. The discrete passages 51 areprovided with inlets 51 a to 51 h for receiving predetermined amount ofthe liquid chocolate A measured by the depositor in advance, and outlets51 a′ to 51 h′ for discharging the liquid chocolate A received throughthe inlets.

The plurality of discrete passages 52 (FIG. 6(a)) penetrating the porousnozzle 50 guide the liquid chocolate B similarly to the discretepassages 51. The discrete passages 52 are provided with inlets 52 a to52 h for receiving predetermined amount of the liquid chocolate Bmeasured by the depositor in advance, and outlets 52 a′ to 52 h′ fordischarging the liquid chocolate B received through the inlets.

The outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ of the discrete passage 51, and the outlets52 a′ to 52 h′ of the discrete passage 52 are arranged alternately incircles in a predetermined plane facing the conveyer 30′. The singlediscrete passage 53 penetrating the center of the porous nozzle 50guides the liquid chocolate C, and is provided with an outlet 53 a forreceiving predetermined amount of the liquid chocolate C measured by adepositor in advance, and an outlet 53 a′ for discharging the liquidchocolate C received through the inlet 53 a to the unit mold 70. Withthis structure, the liquid chocolate A and B are discharged through theoutlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ and 52 a′ to 52 h′ arranged as desired into theunit mold 70 in a predetermined state, and the liquid chocolate C isdischarged into the center thereof. The nozzle for separately guidingeach of the liquid chocolate A to C may be a nozzle wherein the liquidchocolate A to C are guided by additional discrete passages branchedupstream of the discrete passages 51 to 53 of the porous nozzle, or aporous nozzle wherein the discrete passages 51 to 52 themselves arebranched (FIGS. 7(a), 7(b)) as described above, in place of the porousnozzle 50.

The uniting nozzle 60 communicating with the outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′, 52a′ to 52 h′, 53 a′ of the discrete passages 51 to 53 has a contour of areversed truncated cone having a tapered surface as shown in FIG. 5(b).The uniting nozzle 60 receives the streams of the liquid chocolate A toC discharged from the discrete passages 51 to 53 through the outlets 51a′ to 51 h′, 52 a′ to 52 h′, 53 a′ via an inlet 61 a, collects thereceived streams of the chocolate A to C together by a uniting passage61, and discharge the chocolate A to C through an outlet 61 a′ providedat the lower end of the uniting nozzle 60, thereby guiding the chocolateA to C onto the conveyer 30′. The uniting nozzle for guiding the liquidchocolate A to C discharged from the porous nozzle onto the conveyer 30′may be other uniting nozzles 80 as shown in FIGS. 8(a), 8(b) asdescribed above, in place of the uniting nozzle 60. By the unitingnozzle, the streams of the liquid chocolate A to C discharged from theporous nozzle 50 in a predetermined state may be merged into apredetermined collected state for discharging therefrom.

In molding the liquid chocolate A to C in the unit mold 70 in thisExample, discharge of the liquid chocolate C is controlled to startlater and stop earlier than the discharge of the liquid chocolate A andB, so that the liquid chocolate A and B accommodate and cover the liquidchocolate C, and the liquid chocolate C is finally covered by the liquidchocolate A and B completely on the conveyer 30′.

As described above, according to the apparatus, the predetermined amountof each of the liquid chocolate A to C measured by the depositor (notshown) in advance is intermittently supplied, received separatelythrough the inlets 51 a to 51 h, 52 a to 52 h of the discrete passages51 to 53, discharged through the plurality of outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′, 52a′ to 52 h′ arranged alternately in circles in a predetermined planefacing the conveyer 30′. The streams of the liquid chocolate A to C arecollected by the uniting nozzle 60, and guided onto the conveyer 30′.

In producing the covered solidified chocolate (solidified article)having the liquid chocolate C accommodated inside and the predeterminedmingled composite pattern formed of the two kinds of liquid chocolate A,B (viscous fluids) covering the liquid chocolate C with the systemdescribed above, first predetermined amounts of each of the liquidchocolate A to C separately measured by a depositor (not shown) isintermittently supplied. Then each of the predetermined amount of theliquid chocolate A to C intermittently supplied is guided by thediscrete passages 51 to 53 of the porous nozzle 50, respectively, sothat the liquid chocolate A and B are discharged through the outlets 51a′ to 51 h′, and 52 a′ to 52 h′, respectively, arranged alternately incircles in the predetermined plane facing the conveyer 30′, and thepredetermined amount of the liquid chocolate C is guided by the discretepassage 53, so that the liquid chocolate C is discharged through theoutlet 53 a′ surrounded by the outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ and 52 a′ to 52 h′and placed in the center thereof. In this process, the discharge of theliquid chocolate C is controlled to start later and stop earlier thanthe discharge of the liquid chocolate A and B. The streams of the liquidchocolate A and B discharged through the outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ and 52a′ to 52 h′ arranged alternately in circles and the stream of the liquidchocolate C discharged through the outlet 53 a′ surrounded by theoutlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ and 52 a′ to 52 h′ are collected together by theuniting nozzle 60, and guided onto the conveyer 30′ and solidify theliquid chocolate A to C, thereby producing the covered solidifiedchocolate (covered solidified article) having the predeterminedcomposite pattern. In molding and solidifying the liquid chocolate A toC in the above process, a cooling machine may additionally be used, or aheating machine may also be used depending on the viscous fluid to bemolded and solidified. In producing the covered solidified chocolates(covered solidified articles) with an apparatus of other embodiment ofthe present invention, the above procedure may be followed. Thus, theprocess is not described any further.

In this apparatus, the porous nozzle 50 (FIG. 10(a)) may be replaced byother porous nozzles 50 as shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) as describedabove. Details of the other porous nozzles as shown in FIGS. 7(a) and7(b) are as described above, thus they are not described any further.

Further, the uniting nozzle 60 (FIG. 10(b)) may be replaced by otheruniting nozzles 80 as shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) as described above.Details of the other uniting nozzles are as described above, thus theyare not described any further.

The apparatus for producing solidified articles wherein the liquidchocolate is intermittently supplied in a predetermined amount has beendescribed. Next, an apparatus for producing solidified articles whereinthe liquid chocolate is continuously supplied in a predetermined ratiowill be described with reference to the drawings.

This apparatus for producing solidified articles may be used forproducing covered solidified chocolates having the liquid chocolate Clongitudinally extending as a central axis and the predeterminedcomposite pattern formed of the two kinds of liquid chocolate A, B(viscous fluids) which are distinct from each other at least in colorsurrounding the liquid chocolate C. The apparatus is mainly composed of:a pump for high viscosity fluid (not shown) such as a gear pump or asnake pump for continuously supplying the liquid chocolate A to C in apredetermined ratio; a porous nozzle 50 provided with a plurality ofdiscrete passages 51 to 53 for separately guiding each of the liquidchocolate A to C; a uniting nozzle 60 provided with a uniting passage 61communicating with the discrete passages 51 to 53, collecting thestreams of the liquid chocolate A to C guided by the discrete passages5l to 53, and continuously discharging the liquid chocolate A to C at apredetermined ratio; and a conveyer 30′ for receiving and transferringthe liquid chocolate A to C continuously discharged at the predeterminedratio from the outlet 61 a′ of the uniting passage 61. In thisembodiment, there is also provided a mechanism for rotatably driving theporous nozzle 50 and/or uniting nozzle 60 in one direction such asclockwise as shown by the arrow X, or counterclockwise as shown by thearrow X′, or in reciprocating rotation as shown by the arrow Y in FIGS.10(a) and 10(b), around an axis perpendicular to the plane whereinoutlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ and 52 a′ to 52 h′ are arranged.

The plurality of discrete passages 51 to 53 (FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b))penetrating the porous nozzle 50 separately guide each of the liquidchocolate A to C. Each of the liquid chocolate A to C is continuouslysupplied by a pump for high viscosity fluid at a predetermined ratio.Therefore, each of the liquid chocolate A, B is discharged in apredetermined state through the outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′, 52 a′ to 52 h′arranged in a desired arrangement onto the conveyer 30′, while theliquid chocolate C is discharged through the outlet 53 a′ so that itextends longitudinally as a central axis surrounded by the liquidchocolate A, B.

The porous nozzle for separately guide each of the liquid chocolate A toC may be a nozzle wherein the liquid chocolate A to C are guided byadditional discrete passages branched upstream of the discrete passages51 to 53, or a porous nozzle wherein the discrete passages 51 to 53themselves are branched (FIGS. 7(a) and 3(b)) as described above, inplace of the porous nozzle 50.

The uniting nozzle 60 communicating with the outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′, 52a′ to 52 h′ of the discrete passages 51 to 53 are the same as describedabove. The uniting nozzle 60 for guiding the liquid chocolate A to Cdischarged through the porous nozzle onto the conveyer 30′ may bereplaced by other nozzles 80 as shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) asdescribed above. With the uniting nozzle, the streams of the liquidchocolate A to C may be collected together and merged in to apredetermined state for discharging therefrom.

In this embodiment, the liquid chocolate A to C is poured onto theconveyer 30′ so that the liquid chocolate C is surrounded by the liquidchocolate A and B to finally surround the liquid chocolate C extendinglongitudinally as a central axis by the liquid chocolate A and B on theconveyer 30′.

As described above, according to the apparatus of the above embodiment,each of the liquid chocolate A to C continuously supplied in apredetermined ratio by a pump for high viscosity fluid (not shown) suchas a gear pump or a snake pump is received through the inlets 51 a to 51h, 52 a to 52 h of the discrete passages 51 to 53 of the porous nozzle50, and discharged through the plurality of outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′, 52a′ to 52 h′ arranged alternately in circles in a predetermined planefacing the conveyer 30′. The streams of the liquid chocolate A to C arecollected together by the uniting nozzle 60, and guided onto theconveyer 30′.

For producing covered solidified chocolates (covered solidifiedarticles) having the liquid chocolate C extending longitudinally as acentral axis and a predetermined mingled composite pattern formed of twokinds of liquid chocolate A, B (viscous fluids) surrounding the liquidchocolate C, first each of the liquid chocolate A to C is continuouslysupplied at a predetermined ratio by a pump for high viscosity fluid(not shown), and guided separately through the discrete passages 51 to53 of the porous nozzle 50. Then each of the liquid chocolate A to Ccontinuously supplied is guided by the discrete passages 51 to 53 of theporous nozzle 50, respectively, so that the liquid chocolate A and B aredischarged through the outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′, and 52 a′ to 52 h′,respectively, arranged alternately in circles in the predetermined planefacing the conveyer 30′, and the predetermined amount of the liquidchocolate C is guided by the discrete passage 53, so that the liquidchocolate C is discharged through the outlet 53 a′ surrounded by theoutlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ and 52 a′ to 52 h′ and placed in the centerthereof. The streams of the liquid chocolate A and B discharged throughthe outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ and 52 a′ to 52 h′ arranged alternately incircles and the stream of the liquid chocolate C discharged through theoutlet 53 a′ surrounded by the outlets 51 a′ to 51 h′ and 52 a′ to 52 h′are collected together by the uniting nozzle 60, guided onto theconveyer 30′, solidified, and cut into pieces, thereby producing thecovered solidified chocolate (covered solidified article) having theliquid chocolate C extending longitudinally as a central axis and thepredetermined composite pattern formed of the liquid chocolate A, Bsurrounding the liquid chocolate C. In molding and solidifying theliquid chocolate A to C in the above process, a cooling machine mayadditionally be used, or a heating machine may also be used depending onthe viscous fluid to be molded and solidified. In producing the coveredsolidified chocolates (covered solidified articles) with an apparatus ofother embodiment of the present invention, the above procedure may befollowed. Thus, the process is not described any further.

In the apparatus of this embodiment, the porous nozzle 50 (FIG. 10(a))may be replace by other nozzles 50 as shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) asdescribed above.

Further, in the apparatus of this embodiment, the uniting nozzle 60(FIG. 10(b)) may be replaced by other uniting nozzles 80 as shown inFIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) as described above.

In the above embodiments, the porous nozzle 50 has been described ashaving the discrete passages 51 to 53 for separately guiding each of theliquid chocolate A to C integrally formed therein, but the porous nozzleof the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the porousnozzle may be an assembly of a plurality of parts such as a nozzleprovided with a discrete passage 51 for guiding mainly the liquidchocolate A, a nozzle provided with a discrete passage 52 for guidingmainly the liquid chocolate B, and a nozzle provided with a discretepassage 53 for guiding mainly the liquid chocolate C. With thisembodiment, a covered solidified chocolate (a solidified article) havinga predetermined composite pattern may be produced simply by arbitrarilycombining each parts, and each parts may be detached easily forcleaning, thus being remarkably advantageous.

Further, the number of the outlets of each passage (discrete passages 51to 53, 82 and uniting passage 61, 81) may be decided as desired; theconfiguration of the outlet may be decided as desired, such as triangle,rectangle, oval, or the like; and the arrangement of the outlets may bedecided as desired, for example, the outlets may be arranged alternatelyin circles, or in a staggered pattern, regularly, or irregularly.

The conveyer employed in the present invention may be a conveyer 70′(FIG. 11(a)) having side walls 71′ for preventing fluidization of theliquid chocolate along both sides of the conveyer, a conveyer 70′ (FIG.11(b)) provided with accommodating portions 72′ as molds for receivingthe liquid chocolate on the conveyer belt, a conveyer 70′ (FIG. 11(c))provided with a belt having concave and convex surface 73, or a conveyerhaving these structures in arbitrary combination. The accommodatingportion 72′ may be a mold representing a desired article, or a mold ofany configuration.

Further, the composite pattern to be formed with the solidifiedchocolates (solidified articles) may also be controlled by changing thepoint in the accommodating portion 72′ of the conveyer 70′ on which theliquid chocolate A, B (viscous fluids) falls which is finally dischargedthrough the outlets disposed facing the conveyer. Alternatively, in theporous nozzle 50, the discrete passage 53 may be branched, and a portionof the liquid chocolate guided by the discrete passage 53 may bedischarged for use as the viscous fluid for forming the compositepattern. Alternatively, the configurations of the porous nozzle providedwith the discrete passages and the uniting nozzle provided with theuniting passage is not limited to the reversed truncated cone, and maybe any desired shape such as a rectangular parallelepiped.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to thepreferred embodiments, it should be understood that variousmodifications and variations can be easily made by those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, theforegoing disclosure should be interpreted as illustrative only and isnot to be interpreted in a limiting sense. The present invention islimited only by the scope of the following claims.

1. A method for producing solidified articles having a predeterminedcomposite pattern formed of at least two kinds of viscous fluidsdistinct from each other in color, said method comprising the steps of:supplying at least two kinds of viscous fluids distinct from each otherin color separately at a predetermined ratio; introducing each of saidseparately-supplied viscous fluids into a first nozzle having opposingfirst and second ends and at least one first discrete passage per eachof said viscous fluids for separately guiding throughout an entirelength of said nozzle each of the viscous fluids, each of said firstdiscrete passages having at least one first discrete passage inletformed in said first end of said first nozzle, and a portion of saidfirst discrete passages having a plurality of first discrete passageoutlets formed in said second end of said nozzle, while at least one ofsaid first discrete passages having one first discrete passage outletformed in said second end of said nozzle, guiding each of saidseparately-supplied viscous fluids separately through said firstdiscrete passages of the first nozzle to branch a portion of saidviscous fluids, discharging each of said separately-guided viscousfluids through said first discrete passage outlets in said second end ofthe first nozzle in a larger number of streams than a number of saidfirst discrete passage inlets, and receiving and solidifying all of saiddischarged viscous fluids.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein anarrangement of said first discrete passage inlets in said first end ofthe first nozzle and an arrangement of said first discrete passageoutlets in said second end of the first nozzle are relatively differentfrom each other, and wherein said discharging step includes dischargingeach of said separately-guided viscous fluids through said firstdiscrete passage outlets in said second end of the first nozzle in saidarrangement relatively different from the arrangement at said first endof the first nozzle.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said firstdiscrete passage outlets are arranged in the second end of the firstnozzle so that at least one first discrete passage outlet of said atleast one first discrete passages having one first discrete passageoutlet is surrounded by the rest of the first discrete passage outlets,and wherein a timing for discharging said viscous fluids through saidfirst discrete passage outlets is controlled such that discharge of theviscous fluid through said at least one surrounded first discretepassage outlet starts later and ends earlier than discharge of theviscous fluids through said rest of the first discrete passage outlets.4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first nozzle is rotatably drivenaround an axis perpendicular to the second end of the first nozzle. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein all of said discharged viscous fluids arereceived in a unit mold to form a solidified article having apredetermined composite pattern.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein allof said discharged viscous fluids are received on a conveyer, saidmethod further comprising the step of: cutting said viscous fluidsreceived on said conveyer into pieces to produce solidified articleshaving a predetermined composite pattern.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising the steps of, prior to the step of receiving andsolidifying all of said discharged viscous fluids: introducing each ofsaid viscous fluids discharged through said first discrete passageoutlets of the first nozzle into a second nozzle having opposing firstand second ends and at least one uniting passage communicating withfirst discrete passage outlets discharging at least two kinds of theviscous fluids among all of said first discrete passage outlets of thefirst nozzle, said at least one uniting passage each having at least oneuniting passage outlet formed in said second end of said second nozzle,guiding at least two kinds of the viscous fluids through said at leastone uniting passage to collect streams of the viscous fluids together,and discharging said collected streams of said viscous fluids throughsaid at least one uniting passage outlet in said second end of thesecond nozzle.
 8. The method of claim 3, further comprising the stepsof, prior to the step of receiving and solidifying all of saiddischarged viscous fluids, introducing each of said viscous fluidsdischarged through said first discrete passage outlets of the firstnozzle into a second nozzle having opposing first and second ends and atleast one uniting passage communicating with first discrete passageoutlets discharging at least two kinds of the viscous fluids among allof said first discrete passage outlets of the first nozzle, said atleast one uniting passage each having at least one uniting passageoutlet formed in said second end of said second nozzle, said secondnozzle further having at least one second discrete passage communicatingwith said at least one surrounded first discrete passage outlet of saidfirst nozzle, said at least one second discrete passage each having atleast one second discrete passage outlet formed in said second end ofsaid second nozzle, guiding at least two kinds of the viscous fluidsthrough said at least one uniting passage to collect streams of theviscous fluids together, while guiding at least one kind of the viscousfluids received from said at least one surrounded first discrete passageoutlet of the first nozzle separately through said at least one seconddiscrete passage, discharging all of said viscous fluids from saidsecond nozzle while a timing for discharging said viscous fluids throughsaid at least one uniting passage outlet and said at least one seconddiscrete passage outlet is controlled such that discharge of the viscousfluid through said at least one second discrete passage outlet startslater and ends earlier than discharge of the viscous fluids through saidat least one uniting passage outlet.
 9. The method of claim 7, whereinsaid second nozzle further comprises a plate having at least one orificetherein for passing the viscous fluids, said plate being disposed in themiddle of the uniting passage in a plane transverse to a flow directionof the viscous fluids through the uniting passage, and wherein said atleast two kinds of the viscous fluids guided through the uniting passageare passed through said at least one orifice in said plate and merged.10. The method of claim 8, wherein said second nozzle further comprisesa plate having at least one orifice therein for passing the viscousfluids, said plate being disposed in the middle of the uniting passagein a plane transverse to a flow direction of the viscous fluids throughthe uniting passage, and wherein said at least two kinds of the viscousfluids guided through the uniting passage are passed through said atleast one orifice in said plate and merged.
 11. The method of claim 7,wherein at least one of said first and second nozzles is rotatablydriven around an axis perpendicular to the second end of the firstnozzle.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of said firstand second nozzles is rotatably driven around an axis perpendicular tothe second end of the first nozzle.
 13. A method for producingsolidified articles having a predetermined composite pattern formed ofat least two kinds of viscous fluids distinct from each other in color,said method comprising the steps of: supplying at least two kinds ofviscous fluids distinct from each other in color separately at apredetermined ratio; introducing each of said separately-suppliedviscous fluids into a first nozzle having opposing first and second endsand at least one first discrete passage per each of said viscous fluidsfor separately guiding throughout an entire length of said nozzle eachof the viscous fluids, each of said first discrete passages having atleast one first discrete passage inlet formed in said first end of saidfirst nozzle and a plurality of first discrete passage outlets formed insaid second end of said nozzle, guiding each of said separately-suppliedviscous fluids separately through said first discrete passages of thefirst nozzle to branch said viscous fluids, discharging each of saidseparately-guided viscous fluids through said first discrete passageoutlets in said second end of the first nozzle in a larger number ofstreams than a number of said first discrete passage inlets, andreceiving and solidifying all of said discharged viscous fluids.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, wherein an arrangement of said first discretepassage inlets in said first end of the first nozzle and an arrangementof said first discrete passage outlets in said second end of the firstnozzle are relatively different from each other, and wherein saiddischarging step includes discharging each of said separately-guidedviscous fluids through said first discrete passage outlets in saidsecond end of the first nozzle in said arrangement relatively differentfrom the arrangement at said first end of the first nozzle.
 15. Themethod of claim 13, wherein said first nozzle is rotatably driven aroundan axis perpendicular to the second end of the first nozzle.
 16. Themethod of claim 13, wherein all of said discharged viscous fluids arereceived in a unit mold to form a solidified article having apredetermined composite pattern.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein allof said discharged viscous fluids are received on a conveyer, saidmethod further comprising the step of: cutting said viscous fluidsreceived on said conveyer into pieces to produce solidified articleshaving a predetermined composite pattern.
 18. The method of claim 13,further comprising the steps of, prior to the step of receiving andsolidifying all of said discharged viscous fluids: introducing each ofsaid viscous fluids discharged through said first discrete passageoutlets of the first nozzle into a second nozzle having opposing firstand second ends and at least one uniting passage communicating withfirst discrete passage outlets discharging at least two kinds of theviscous fluids among all of said first discrete passage outlets of thefirst nozzle, said at least one uniting passage each having at least oneuniting passage outlet formed in said second end of said second nozzle,guiding at least two kinds of the viscous fluids through said at leastone uniting passage to collect streams of the viscous fluids together,and discharging said collected streams of said viscous fluids throughsaid at least one uniting passage outlet in said second end of thesecond nozzle.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said second nozzlefurther comprises a plate having at least one orifice therein forpassing the viscous fluids, said plate being disposed in the middle ofthe uniting passage in a plane transverse to a flow direction of theviscous fluids through the uniting passage, and wherein said at leasttwo kinds of the viscous fluids guided through the uniting passage arepassed through said at least one orifice in said plate and merged. 20.The method of claim 18, wherein at least one fo said first and secondnozzles is rotatably driven around an axis perpendicular to the secondend of the first nozzle.